By Lisa Marshall
The annual Great Noosa Country Trail Walk took place on the long weekend of 2-4 October in the beautiful Noosa Hinterland.
This unique event, recently renamed as the Noosa Biosphere Trail, had walkers traversing the countryside on the Noosa Trail Network starting at Lake McDonald in Cooroy and finishing in Pomona. Just under 200 walkers covered 56kms in three days, and camped overnight in Kin Kin and Cooran, or stayed at local BnBs and accommodation in the nearby towns.
The event was created by Shaun Walsh, who wanted a way to connect the country towns of Cooroy, Cooran, Kin Kin and Pomona to highlight the beautiful natural surroundings in the area.
“The Noosa Trail Network in pretty unusual in Australia as it connects country towns and villages, with good day walks in between. It is very similar to walks and pilgrimages you get in Europe, but very rare here in Australia. I also like the way is mixes open farmland with national parks and forests – the terrain is very diverse – it’s like walking across the rooftops of the natural and cultural landscapes of Noosa.”
Highlights on the route include the views from Twin Hill Views lookout and James McKane Lookout, the forests in Woondum National Park, and the challenging climb of Mt Cooroora in the final leg, for those that choose to do it.
Central to the success of the event, which was started in 2013 with just 90 walkers, is the dedicated and committed team of Trail Guides. This year, 16 volunteer Guides took to the trails with the walkers, as support and encouragement and to provide local knowledge of the towns and trails. Walkers are encouraged to be self-sufficient and self-guided, but having the team of local guides brings a welcoming sense of support and community.
Local Noosa Trek coach and event coordinator for the Trail Walk this year, Lisa Marshall, said, “ There was a huge sense of gratitude and much excitement when the event went ahead, given the uncertainties that go with the current times. Many events have been unable to happen this year, so we cherished every day we were out walking in nature, and really appreciated the opportunity we had to hike in the scenic Noosa Hinterland and camp under the stars.”
Local hiker Janet Kake, one of the volunteer trail guides, was excited to find some of her family history along the route: “My grandparents are Mervyn Bunney and Agnes Playford who came from the early settler families in Kin Kin and Pomona. No wonder I love these trails!” she said.
The team of volunteer Trail Guides, walk the route together in the weeks leading up to the event, to re-acquaint themselves with the route, to report any hazards or areas to be dealt with by Council or Parks before the event, and to discuss plans for event weekend.
Long standing guide and supporter Janet Mitchell, said:
“We’ve been involved since the start and just love the camaraderie that has developed between the guides. They are a very special group of incredible people who have become an important part of our lives. We haven’t walked the trail for a couple of years and unfortunately won’t again this year but we’re still on the scene lending a hand, supporting the trail guides marking the route and transporting goods for walkers.”
Holly Ash, who walked the route this year, said at the finish at Pomona Distilling Co: “Great end to an awesome weekend adventure. Met so many new friends and had a wonderful time hiking. Thank you and cheers to all the guides, organisers, walkers and helpers. Bring on 2022!”
For the second year in a row, the event organisers aimed for a zero waste event, encouraging walkers to bring their own food and water in re-usable containers and to leave no trace” on the trails.
The hikers, all from Queensland this year, finished each day with tasty meals at Black Ant Gourmet in Kin Kin and The PC Cutters Club in Cooran. They also visited the Hinterland Brewery and Dingo Creek Winery in the afternoon, to enjoy some local fare. Wholesome breakfasts and lunches, as well as a pop-up tea stall, were prepared by local community groups, Eumundi Rotary, Cooroy Pomona Lions Club, KinKin Community Group and Pomona Cooroy Cutters.
Funds raised from the event have gone towards the planting of 2200 tree species in the Hinterland, providing shade into the future.
Since its inception, this walk has been organised, managed and carried out by a host of passionate volunteers, local organisations and sponsors.
Registrations for next year’s event will open towards the end of the year. The event has sold out within a week the past few years, so if you are keen to join in the fun next year, follow Great Noosa Trail Walk on Facebook and watch out for the launch of the 2022 event.
